I expect a big chunk ot the WABDR to be without cell phone reception making the bluetooth headset worthless for a larger group. With the radio helemt option the transmit button is on the left handlebar. You just push it with your index finger and talk. Everyone in your group can then hear you in there helmets. The headset is 30 bucks and the range depends on the individual radio and antennae.

Who makes this group radio headset? how many riders can talk at the same time? I currently use the F4 and although the volume is good the number of units that can talk to each other is only 2..

Happy Trails just confirmed with me that there panniers are made right in Idaho and since its welded aluminium and not rivted they are cheaper and tougher than the Chinese made knock offs of the BMW panniers available from Pak-Miester. I'll have to wait until the end of the year before i have that much cash to drop but it looks like i'll go with the bare aluminum Qwyhee panniers from happy Trails. I like the bare aluminum look over the powder coat. Now to find a liner bag i can pull out with my stuff. I don't like the individual package bags from happy Trails. I just want one bag to pull out to take into the hotel or at camp.

Who makes this group radio headset? how many riders can talk at the same time? I currently use the F4 and although the volume is good the number of units that can talk to each other is only 2..

You can get a head set that works with the Midland radios or compatible radios for 30 bucks. The rider group is unlimited because it just broadcasts over the radio channel or frequency. Make sure you check the specs of the radio and how much audio is pushed out of the head set jack to make sure you can hear it over the wind and engine noise, With FRS/GMRS radios the more you spend the better the radio. Go for a radio combo that is at least 70 bucks. I'm going to go with a radio called the Wouxon KG UV3D. Its a ham radio but a hack is avialable online to unlock the radio to the full freq range. I'm then going to enter the GMRS freqs and use it that way verse the ham freqs, You could also use the midland headsets with a midland CB radio for motorcycles. http://www.motorcycle-communications...-MDCB-822.html The CB option would probably give you a better range in the mountains because the frequency range of CB radios tends to do better in rough terrain.

Happy Trails just confirmed with me that there panniers are made right in Idaho and since its welded aluminium and not rivted they are cheaper and tougher than the Chinese made knock offs of the BMW panniers available from Pak-Miester. I'll have to wait until the end of the year before i have that much cash to drop but it looks like i'll go with the bare aluminum Qwyhee panniers from happy Trails. I like the bare aluminum look over the powder coat. Now to find a liner bag i can pull out with my stuff. I don't like the individual package bags from happy Trails. I just want one bag to pull out to take into the hotel or at camp.

Not fancy but I just used a re-usable shopping bag on our most recent trip. I typically like to use the round stuff sacks and I can get 4-5 of those in a side case. As long as I keep organized I can just grab one or two and head into the room. One big bag is fine when you start and everything's clean but when you start to have half dirty clothes and half clean it's easier in separate bags.

Happy Trails just confirmed with me that there panniers are made right in Idaho and since its welded aluminium and not rivted they are cheaper and tougher than the Chinese made knock offs of the BMW panniers available from Pak-Miester. I'll have to wait until the end of the year before i have that much cash to drop but it looks like i'll go with the bare aluminum Qwyhee panniers from happy Trails. I like the bare aluminum look over the powder coat. Now to find a liner bag i can pull out with my stuff. I don't like the individual package bags from happy Trails. I just want one bag to pull out to take into the hotel or at camp.

on that note. i know its been talked about but im not really sure who all uses them. whos using the happy trails panniers? how well are they holding up? Im not sold on the looks but the price is saweet!

Thanks for the heads up, great advice and certainly worth a go. Our small group has been looking for an alternate to the BT headset options, this sounds like it will cover the gap we currently have.

Cheers

The sound output is the key because above 60 MPH my cheap FRS/GMRS Midland radio is useless because i can't hear it above the helmet noise. Below 50MPH and it works great. So buy a higher quality radio that puts out more audio from the jack. Also correction to my post the CB radios will not give you a better range with the GMRS handhelds.

Thanks for the heads up, great advice and certainly worth a go. Our small group has been looking for an alternate to the BT headset options, this sounds like it will cover the gap we currently have.

Cheers

Here's a link to a blog of a dual sport rider useing the Wouxun radio http://dcasler.com/2011/09/09/wouxun...s-works-great/ with a comms signal called APRS. That requires a ham license of course. using it on the GMRS freqs technically requires a 75 dollar license to use those freqs. iIs not enforced and thousands if not millions of those FRS/GMRS radios sold at wallyworld are being used without that license. The benefit of the Wouxun radio on the GMRS freqs it that you can change out the antennae. If not everyone can shell out the 120 for the Wouuxun they can still make a trip to walmart for a GMRS radio and still play as long as they buy the 30 dollar headset from Midland. The Midland headset only works with radios that use the separate jack for mic and speaker. Not all FRS/GMRS radios have the same 2 jack for mic and speaker so make sure the particular radio you buy is compatible.